Speaking on the Senate Floor

[TayTay]

Now. Looking good.

Very excellent stuff.

12:00 noon. 4/13/05

[JI7]

1. thanks

i think i missed most of it but it's nice seeing him.

[TayTay]

2. Tears

This is amazing. Senator Kerry got 2,000 replies to his e-mail request for stories about how hard it is for military familes. These are heartbreaking.

Wonderful stuff. Tears now.

Dammit, this stuff shouldn't happen. What is wrong with this country.

[whometense]

3. Ack - the live feed took forever

but I got to see the last 30 seconds or so. Sniff. But I was there in time to see Byrd and Durbin sign on as co-sponsors.

[TayTay]

4. It was very sad

He quoted from e-mails he got over night about how awful things are for some of the families of the people who are risking their lives to serve this country. Even worse, how awful life is for families of soldiers who have DIED in the service and now their families face no health cre, bankruptcy and so forth.

Honestly, this is just awful. This is unconscionable on any level. These amendments had better pass.

1. A family where the husband was working at Home Depot and got called up. Lost pay differential. Lost Health Care benefits. Had a kid with pre-existing. The wife has to take diminsihed financial resources and BUY her own health care.
2. Family of a soldier killed in action has to pretty much beg for charity from other relatives in order to bring up their kids. They will face financial ruin, because their husband/father died for his country.

Honestly, what else can you say?

[JI7]

5. also that it would and should apply to ALL soldiers killed while

serving their country. not just during combat which is important because even if they were not killed while in combat they were killed while they were serving their country and giving their time to be away from their family and life at home.

[whometense]

6. Not a thing.

Except for this: how many repugs were listening, and how many plan to vote for these amendments?

[karynnj]

8. Missed the speech, from your summary, this is so sad

I hope that the Senators listening have consciences and vote for these amendments. I'm amazed that he got 2000 emails overnight from military families. First, it means that he must have a large number of military families on his list.

I know he talked about some of this during the campaign, but doing this now really is great. Maybe the military will realize that he really really does care.

[TayTay]

7. VOTES ON THESE START AT 1:45 PM

The Durbin and 2 Kerry Amendments go to a vote today. Starting at 1:45. Kerry's get only 2 minutes for pre-vote speech.

How can anyone vote against these?

[whometense]

9. I keep asking myself that,

and yet they keep doing it.

A paralyzed vet (from Iraq) called in to Morning Sedition today and was comparing Chimpy's pep talk yesterday to the troops ("We will do everything in our power to see you get what you need") with the reality of life on the VA hospital circuit, and it wasn't pretty. He was amazingly matter-of-fact, considering.

[TayTay]

10. I'm telling ya, I haven't changed my mind at all

Looking at Bush's agenda and Kerry's agenda is like deciding which you want for dinner: Cold spaghetti out of a can or a nice Filet Mignon. Still is.

[karynnj]

11. I hope that at least some of the anti-Kerry vets see this and realize

what they have done. Since the election, it's been clear who cares about the vets and who was right on many military issues.

[TayTay]

12. Stevens from Alaska

Opposes giving better death benefits to active duty people. Unbelievable. He says it's because people who die in combat are special heroes and should get this benefit. The surviving wives, children and dependents of all others should just bite it.

Also, we can't pick up the difference between civilian pay and military pay for reserves. No, no, no. These people knew what they were getting themselves into, so screw them.

What a guy!

[ginnyinWI]

13. like Nancy Pelosi said this morning

(I was just watching the replay of the Dem leadership press conference form this morning): The GOP has been hijacked by the radical right. She appealed to them to take back their party and allow democratic legislation to happen again. It is so sad. They said it has never been this extreme in the history of Congress.
These radicals care nothing for the American people.

[Pirate Smile]

14. Thankfully, Durbin required a Yay or Nay vote. I guess the Repubs

wanted to avoid it? (I just walked in). Asswipes. Lets get them on record.

Durbin said the Senate approves these and they always disappear in conference with the House.

[cestpaspossible]

15. Voting momentarily

2:22 eastern 4-13

[whometense]

16. I am SO confused.

So he got the housing amendment attached without a vote? Do I have that right?

[TayTay]

18. Yes! Yeah

Scared the Mofo's into voting for it. Because they didn't want to go on the record throwing widows out of their housing after their husbands had died in war-related incidents. (Funny it should start to affect them now!)

Thanks Senator! :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

[whometense]

19. Looks like they can't shelve the

other one. Go, John!!!!

Edited to add that watching the Senate makes me feel like an idiot. I assume this is good?? Since Kerry voted no?

[karynnj]

21. Looks like he's winning on the other too

He's got lots of Republican votes

[whometense]

23. He does -

a LOT of them.

[TayTay]

20. Now voting to table the amendment

and throw it away. The first one passed on a voice vote. (housing vote.)

The Rehtugs tried to make it go away. No dice. They must go on the record in another vote that will record how they feel about increasing the Death Benefit for death in the military (all deaths) to $100,000.

Great! :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

This is where the 'I voted for it before I voted against it' stuff came from.

See how they like it.

[whometense]

22. Thanks,

we crossed posts. This is like watching a Russian movie with no subtitles.

[TayTay]

24. Not that difficult

These are pretty straightforward amendments. However, the other side has the right to ask that they be tabled or considered later. (meaning never.) So, before the actual vote they are asking, Do we really have to vote on this, in public and on the record? (Where people who watch C-Span can see?) What if my veteran constituents find out? Please, let this cup pass from me, I have important tax cuts for the rich to get to.

Bastards.

Anyway, there will be a second vote which will actually say what is or isn't going to happen. They can now vote on that.

[whometense]

25. What really had me confused

was the Durbin thing they were voting on when I first tuned in. A Durbin amendment that Durbin voted against??

[TayTay]

27. No, to table it

again, how dare those Democrats make us vote on this in public. Our constituents might find out. Dammit! Why can't we just vote to eleiminate more tax from rich corporations.

Kay Bailey Hutchinson is an idiot!

[whometense]

30. Yes.

Yes, she is.

[Pirate Smile]

32. Just wait until the Nuke option is dropped, Kay! You are going to have

to do so many stupid little votes on EVERYTHING.

[whometense]

33. One more question, then I'll shut up.

So, why do you think all those repugs voted not to table the amendment? It can't mean they intend to vote for it. Can it?

[TayTay]

36. They have to face the voters on this

Even the motion to table is on the public record. More people are paying attention.

Or maybe they had a conversion experience and have decided to do something that is in the public interest and is a morally decent thing to do.

Sorry, I think I just had a daydream. I will now snap out of it.

[Pirate Smile]

29. He probably voted against tabling it - which would kill it.

That is why it seems confusing. It sounds like they are voting against it but it is actually the opposite.

[whometense]

26. And also,

what's all that "move to reconsider" stuff?

[TayTay]

28. From the rule book

Which makes the 'infield fly rule' look good:

Reconsideration
1. When a question has been decided by the Senate, any Senator voting with the prevailing side or who has not voted may, on the same day or on either of the next two days of actual session thereafter, move a reconsideration; and if the Senate shall refuse to reconsider such a motion entered, or if such a motion is withdrawn by leave of the Senate, or if upon reconsideration the Senate shall affirm its first decision, no further motion to reconsider shall be in order unless by unanimous consent. Every motion to reconsider shall be decided by a majority vote, and may be laid on the table without affecting the question in reference to which the same is made, which shall be a final disposition of the motion.

2. When a bill, resolution, report, amendment, order, or message, upon which a vote has been taken, shall have gone out of the possession of the Senate and been communicated to the House of Representatives, the motion to reconsider shall be accompanied by a motion to request the House to return the same; which last motion shall be acted upon immediately, and without debate, and if determined in the negative shall be a final disposition of the motion to reconsider.

This is even too wonky for me! See for yourself: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/common/briefing/Standing_Rules_Senate.htm#13

Clear as mud? This means they get to revise it for a short period of time. Every so often you see a Senator who was in the bathroom or asleep or something ask to change their vote or have their vote added to a bill. Because it has been 'reconsidered' they can do so.

[whometense]

31. Man.

And they do it so fast you have no chance to figure out what they're really up to.

[TayTay]

34. Ok, track this for me.

I have a dentist's appointment. Will catch up with you guys later.

There will be a test on the Rules of the Senate later. (Hehehehehehe, just wanted to see if you were paying attention.)

[whometense]

35. And I was about to say the same thing,

except I have a cello lesson. I'll be on tenterhooks the whole time.

[JI7]

17. Kerry debating dumbass Stevens now

[cestpaspossible]

37. Both passed! Good job, JK!

:thumbsup:

[ginnyinWI]

38. thanks!

I've been looking for the results of the vote, but couldn't find it. I saw the beginning of the debate then had to leave. Whew--this is great news, both politically and for the people who will be affected.